Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 17th February 2016
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Scientists print living tissue structures
3D printed ear
Completed ear structure printed with the Integrated Tissue-Organ Printing system.

Technology could be used to replace ears, bone and muscle 

Living tissue structures can be printed to replace injured or diseased tissue in humans, research by the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre has found.

Using a custom-designed 3D printer, the scientists produced ear, bone and muscle structures. When implanted in animals, the structures grew into functional tissue and developed a system of blood vessels.

The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, suggests that the structures have the right size, strength and function for use in humans.

“This novel tissue and organ printer is an important advance in our quest to make replacement tissue for patients,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and senior author on the study.

“It can fabricate stable, human-scale tissue of any shape. With further development, this technology could potentially be used to print living tissue and organ structures for surgical implantation.”

The team developed the Integrated Tissue and Organ Printing System (ITOP) over 10 years. It deposits both bio-degradable, plastic-like materials to form the tissue “shape” and water-based gels that contain the cells. A strong, temporary outer structure is then formed on the outside.

To keep the cells alive, the scientists optimised the water-based “ink” that holds the cells so that it promoted cell health and growth. They also printed a lattice of micro-channels throughout the structures. These allow nutrients and oxygen from the body to diffuse into the structures and keep them live while they develop a system of blood vessels.

The scientists say that the ITOP system can also use data from CT and MRI scans to “tailor-make” tissue for patients. For a patient missing an ear, for example, the system could print a matching structure.

The team are now conducting further studies to measure longer-term outcomes.

Image (C) Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.